LONDON (SW): After securing a decisive victory in the United Kingdom’s general elections, Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to bring the country together and counter the rise of Scottish nationalism with more powers for Scotland and Wales.
With all 650 seats declared, Cameron’s Conservative party has ended up with 331 seats in the House of Commons, 24 more than in 2010. Labour have 232, the Liberal Democrats 8 while the Scottish National Party has secured 56 out of a total of 59 seats in Scotland.
The Conservatives' victory means they will be able to govern without the need for a coalition or a formal agreement with other parties.
Speaking in Downing Street on Friday, Cameron said: "We will govern as a party of one nation, one United Kingdom”. He said he would press ahead with devolution of powers to all nations as well as referendum on the UK's EU membership.
"I have always believed in governing with respect," he said "That's why in the last parliament we devolved power to Scotland and Wales, and gave the people of Scotland a referendum on whether to stay inside the United Kingdom.
"In this parliament I will stay true to my word and implement as fast as I can the devolution that all parties agreed for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland."
The British Prime Minister has already spoken to SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.
The SNP is expected to press for more devolved powers for the Scottish Parliament, going beyond what was proposed by the Smith Commission after last year's independence referendum. The party wants an independent Scotland and is already considering putting a new referendum on independence into its party program for regional elections a year from now. Scotland voted against independence last September, but Thursday’s vote made clear that the dream remains very much alive among Scottish separatists
One of the main challenges Cameron will face is about UK's future in Europe. The British Prime Minister has pledged to hold in 2017. During his previous term in office, he pledge to hold a referendum by the end of 2017 on Britain’s continued membership in the European Union.
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